Article by Sam Winebaum
Kailas FUGA EX 330 (180€,$199.)
Introduction
Founded in 2003 with an early focus on mountaineering and climbing, Kailas launched its trail running brand FUGA in 2016. One of the top outdoor brands in China, they are now well known in Europe. In this review, we take a look at EX 330, a shoe positioned by Kailas as an ultra capable contender and indeed around Chamonix during UTMB week, I saw many runners of all levels in FUGA shoes with Cristian Minoggio just losing that epic OCC duel to Jim Walmsley while rocking the FUGA EX PRO.
With its big 39mm heel / 34mm forefoot stack of supercritical EVA and Vibram Megagrip outsole, reasonable weight and rugged but light mesh upper, it sure looks capable of any trail challenge.
My initial testing has been varied: a trip up a technical VK type trail in Chamonix, a fast road and gravel run, and a walk/hike on easy trails and pavement. More “trails” testing to come, but for all three outings smiles were big and legs happy!
Pros:
balanced combination: soft, deep and responsive cushion, stability, and agility
versatile: ultra capable and daily training any surface, any pace suitable
comfortable, light and foot wrapping upper: impeccable security and sufficient adjustable room for many foot types
effective cord based AWS 3.0 lace tightening system eliminates traditional laces and gives 2 zones of adjustability
MegaGrip outsole: aggressive technical trails capable, not in the way on smoother terrain
Cons:
lace cord pocket could be a bit easier to access, minor
at the higher end of pricing for a non plated trail runner
while rugged and substantial somewhat on the heavy side
Stats
Sample Weight:
men’s 10.48 oz / 297g US 9 / EU
Stack Height: 39 mm heel / 34 mm forefoot
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 55mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes (with your name next to each)
Hoka Mafate 5
La Sportiva Prodigio Max
Norda 00!A
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
No question the look is bold and wild with multiple somewhat clashing colors and bold 330 branding promising an exciting ride, and maybe a fast one.
The upper is what Kailias Fuga calls XDIMesh with what looks like (confirming) aramid (Kevlar) fibers in the mix, so somewhat like Matryx (non stretch and thin) and here in a very open weave. Not to worry about debris infiltrating as the tongue gusset extends from the midfoot through the toe box as an inner lining and there are extensive protective overlays along the rand (area just above the outsole). No debris has snuck in during testing so far.
The heel counter is almost entirely rigid with 2 side plastic “Fuga” clips and a rear rising section of midsole. The foot ahead of the far rear does not sit down the in the midsole but in combination with the collars and heel counter is stable and very well held
The AWS 3.0 lacing system uses cords instead of traditional laces with a dual adjustment system. The front 2 laces can be adjusted separately from the rest.
I have left the front adjusted snug and have never since had to adjust but as feet swell the front can be opened up some.
My only minor complaint is that the lace garage could be a bit more generous in stretch to make inserting the laces easier.
The final lace up is ingenious and practical. Pull the cords tights as you wish then hook the lace across to the lateral side, center the locking piece and pull..
So far in testing, I have never had to readjust as the cords and the upper doesn't stretch (even when wet) although the collars and lining do absorb quite a bit of water even if the mesh doesn't.
The tongue is well padded and wraps the foot very well for a secure and comfortable lockdown. Even tightened, I have not had any lace bite due to the padding and center leatherette strip
The toe bumper is quite rigid but never noticed as the rest of the hold back to front is so good and there is sufficient height/volume over the toes.
The toe box room is generous, if not the broadest, with the mesh thin enough for some give but non stretch. The fit is true to size for my narrow/medium feet.
The combination of carefully considered elements of the upper make it outstanding: versatile, not overly rigid and hot, flowing well with the stride, and secure without being so snug one can’t imagine using the shoe for ultras, as intended.
Midsole & Platform
Kalias Fuga says the midsole is made of “responsive EVA”, and on the product page here saying the foam is supercritical. And it sure feels supercritical on the run with the reasonable 10.48 oz / 297g US 9 weight for so much shoe pointing that way as well . The midsole is relatively soft and quite bouncy, and yes,very responsive as well the responsive part helped by the thick Vibram MegGrip outsole which clearly (along with the upper) also helps stabilize the ride.
In terms of feel, the midsole reminds a lot of the Mafate 5’s supercritical EVA but on a somewhat narrower more agile platform. It for sure does not remind of a firm and dull traditional EVA midsole.
With a 39mm heel / 34mm forefoot stack height is clearly in the max category. At those heights trail shoes can get lumbering and clumsy but not so here and it is I think due to the underfoot platform geometry (and the previously mentioned outsole and of course midsole foam).
At 90mm heel / 60mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot underfoot we have a quite unique platform width geometry. The heel at the far rear is actually narrower than 90mm and split allowing easy landings and no sensation of back weighting with the outsole wrapping up around the edges of the heel which clearly helps stabilize and then broadening to 90mm for yet more rear stability.
Ahead of that, the midfoot narrows to a very narrow 60 mm at midfoot, among the narrowest of any trail shoe I can recall. This narrow midfoot remains surprisingly stable due to the broader area just to its rear and the outsole below as well as the upper hold.
The transitions through the midfoot have been very smooth and quick everywhere I have taken them.
The forefoot at 115mm is moderately broad and in line for a modern ultra shoe.It takes advantage of the dynamic midsole foam for a nice rebounding and stable toe off.
As with the upper, KALIAS delivers a well balanced underfoot approach with a midsole that has plenty of deep rebounding (and fun) cushion, good stability, and enough agility for any terrain, any distance trail run. It is even excellent on the road, and ultras can have pavement and hard surfaces in the mix.
Outsole
The outsole is Vibram Megagrip with 4mm-6mm lugs with, in addition, mini side Traction Lug said to improve traction up to 25%.
Traction has been everywhere everywhere including on the VK and durability should be excellent. Rock protection is superb. It is unclear if there is a forefoot plate. Given the front stiffness when flexing the shoe there may be on of film variety (confirming)
On firm surfaces and pavement there is no mistaking the 330 for anything but a trail shoe (feel and noise) but nonetheless there is some flex towards midfoot and the soft midsole keeps things notably smooth on the firm, also making the 330 an excellent door to trail choice.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: Balance and versatility are the words that first come to mind when describing the EX 330. While the graphics and colors are kind of wild and almost cartoonish, the shoe on the run has a notable blend of energy, pep, and smooth flow for such a big shoe, on all terrains. Fun and energetic yet poised and ready for whatever the trail throws at you is the way I would describe the ride.
I was just as comfortable and stable managing some tricky near Via Ferrata moves on the VK type trail in Chamonix as I was winding them up on flatter gravel and pavement where its big rebound really stood out, reminding of the midsoles of the Mount to Coast T1 and Hoka Mafate 5 and to a certain extent the Salomon Ultra Glide
The upper continues that sense of balance and polish having at the same time all the security one could hope for yet also a light and ultra adjustable fit with no area of the upper “overdoing it” to compensate for another. The AWS 3.0 lacing system is effective in quickly custom adjusting locking in the fit.
At the current pricing of $199, we are at the higher end for an unplated max cushion trail shoe. The EX 330’s broad distance and terrain versatility, fun factor, and expected durability help soften the pricing to a large extent making them I think a decent value. While ultra marketed, the 330 can clearly serve as a one shoe trail quiver for all but short and very fast efforts.
Sam’s Score: 9.32 /10
Ride (30%):9.3 Fit (30%): 9.5 Value (10%): 8.4 Style (5%): 8.2
Traction (15%):9.7 Rock Protection (10%): 9.7
😊😊😊😊
3 Comparisons
Hoka Mafate 5 (RTR Review)
The Mafate 5 is considerebly higher stack at 45 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot. It is 20 mm broader at midfoot on the ground and 0.4 oz heavier at 10.85 oz / 308g US9. It is not nearly as agile and quick feeling as a result even if its midsole foam has a similar soft and bouncy feel. The Mafate 5 upper is clearly higher volume and not as secure (if still decent) as the 330’s. The Hoka has no gusset tongue and needs one. In terms of ride the EX 330 leans both faster and more agile while the Hoka more stable and planted (that broad midfoot upper and platform) but only if you have a nigh volume foot which can take advantage of its upper volume.. Due to the fit issues and weight differences and overall more agile quicker ride I prefer the 330 in this march up.
La Sportiva Prodigio Max (RTR Review)
Shoes with very similar intent, long technical terrain ultras the Max and EX 330 are close competitors. Slightly lower stack height at 37/31 the Sportiva weighs about the same. Its upper is very very secure, to a fault really with its toe box mesh even for me at half size up on the low volume side due to its more rigid paper mesh and more extensive toe bumper. The rest of its upper works well for me.
While the 330 has a single slab of foam, the Max has an outer EVA carrier with an inner soft supercritical core. Its platform width is identical to the Fuga but for the midfoot where it has a 12mm wider measurement at 72mm making it more intrinsically more stable yet also not quite as quick in transition as the 330. The Sportiva Frixxion outsole gives nothing to the Vibram on the Kailas, both are excellent. Picking between these two is tough. I very slightly prefer the Sportiva overall for its more planted feel and yet smoother roll under the “assumption” that going a full size up from my normal would help with the toe box volume issues.
Norda 001A (RTR Review)
The Norda is slightly lower stack and slightly lighter but $94 more than the 330. For that premium you get a broader fitting toe box, a super premium Dyneema based upper mesh and in the 001A, a more reactive (contrasting to the 330”s bouncy) new Arnitel blend midsole foam. Both share MegaGrip outsoles. The 330 has somewhat better rear hold, both have great midfoot hold, with the Norda’s toe box broader and more comfortable while remaining equally as well held. The 330 will do somewhat better for me on technical trails while the Norda will be my choice for everything else. The Fuga is a better value overall.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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